Nine Displaced By Manchester Fire

Nine were displaced by a fire in a multi-family duplex on Orchard Street in Manchester on Saturday.

Nine were displaced by a fire in a multi-family duplex on Orchard Street in Manchester on Saturday. (Savannah Mul / Hartford Courant)

SAVANNAH MUL, smul@courant.com

MANCHESTER — Nine people, including seven children, were displaced by a fire in a multi-family duplex on Orchard Street in Manchester on Saturday, Fire Chief David Billings said.

The fire broke out around 1:30 p.m., with heavy smoke coming out of the attic windows od 24 Orchard Street, Billings said. The fire also spread to 26 Orchard Street as well.

When firefighters arrived on scene, flames were shooting through the attic window, he said.

Two women, who were in separate units, were the only ones in the house at the time. They were able to escape safely, Billings said. The children were outside playing at the time of the fire.

The tenant in 26 Orchard Street smelled smoke and discovered heavy smoke in the stairway leading to the attic. The woman called 911 and alerted her neighbor to get out.

Firefighters were also able to rescue a rabbit and cat out of the duplex, Billings said.

The Manchester Fire Department was able to contain the blaze in 15 minutes before it engulfed the roof, Billings said. The attic was destroyed and there was heavy smoke and water damage to the first and second floor of each unit.

Billings said there were no smoke detectors in the house.

The building department has determined that the house is uninhabitable. Billings said the American Red Cross will help relocate the displaced families.